Blogs from Cranbrook, British Columbia, Canada, North America

Day 14. This is my last full day in Cranbrook. It seemed like a good day for bacon and eggs since it will be a simple breakfast tomorrow. I decided a ride back to Creston was the route de jour. I’d only been that way once and I found a few secondary roads this time which made for some new pictures. A short ways out of the city a group of about 20 Hells Angels blew past me on a sold line. One in particular cut right back in front of me within feet while another waved as he passed. You’ll find all kinds no matter where you look. Further down the road traffic was stopped for paving and I could see the group ahead. When I got to Creston I pulled into a gas station ... read more

Day 12. The thunder woke me up last night at some point but I didn’t hear any rain until the next time I awoke at 4:15 but even that wasn’t much. I put the awning out to cover my cooking table and half the bike. Breakfast was PB on toast and yogurt with raspberries and nuts. Quick, easy and minimal cleanup compared to back and eggs. I cleaned the previous days dust off the bike and was off. I decided I’d try the road I stumbled upon a couple days earlier in the opposite direction for a different view. I saw another road on google maps I assumed was a gravel logging road but went to be sure. The first few kilometres turned out to be paved and lead me to a reservoir on the Kootenay ... read more

Day 10. Another dead end. Yoghurt with raspberries and nuts, then pancakes started the day. The forecast was for hot and sunny again so I left my chaps and sweater behind as I rode away from camp toward the mining town of Elkford. It’s at the end of paved road although there does appear to be a gravel continuation for logging or perhaps another mine. There is a coal mine or maybe many in the area. Coal for making steel according to Google. Part of the route was back over the route I came to Cranbrook on on Friday but it always looks different from the saddle then the seat. Heading South East on Hwy 3/93 I was admiring a mountain range to my left but couldn’t see a place to stop for a picture. Once ... read more

Day 8. 3753Km. I’m happy to have arrived at my first British Columbia destination and the scenery is beautiful but I’m a little disappointed with the campground itself. It’s wide open with no shade which surprises me a bit for BC but not for a KOA I suppose. I only have myself to blame for not doing better research though. When I booked this entire trip back in December I searched for what campgrounds I could book online and the KOA website is handy for that. Most campgrounds were closed for the winter at that point and there was no way to book by phone. Shortly after leaving Lethbridge I could see the mountains. I remember the feeling of excitement from last time I first saw them when leaving Calgary. First just a dark bump on ... read more

Lorsque je me suis couché hier au soir, la température était de 1*, et toujours la pluie intense. Dans la nuit, je me suis réveillé en sursaut, et si la pluie avait tourné en neige. Non toujours la pluie avec la même intensité. Ouf. La météo avait pourtant, annoncé de l' amélioration, le matin et éclaircie l' apres midi. J' ai trainé au maximum, avant de décoller, bien sur sous la pluie. Je suis retourné au port que j' avais vu la veille, en espérant faire de belles photos, en me disant tant pis elles seront avec la pluie, pas le choix. Plus question de s' approcher le parking était sous 30 a 50 cms d' eau. plus loin c' était les maisons, encore plus loin toutes les prairies. 36 heures de forte pluie ca laisse ... read more